National Republican., 1887-05-25
DON'T WANT THE PLACE,
Attorney General Garland and the su-
preme Bench.

In regard to his supposed candidacy for the
vacant judgeship on the Supreme ben III At
torney General Garland yesterday talked treoly,
and said: ~ do not want the place, and would
not take 1t II offered me-"
He was asked his reasons, and said ~ donot
undervalue the place. IL has work and respon-
sibility enough to test the energy aud ability
of any one, and honor for the most ambitions.
When the last two appointments for the Su-
preme Court were made, my name was con-
spicuously mentioned BY persons Of bo,h
parties for selection. AT that time would
did not hesitate TO soy so, put was younger
by several years, and my health was much
better than now. Then there was period OF
twenty years between my age and that liked
for retiring and my health was unimpaired
Now that period Is only iifteep years aud my
constitution is worn and enfeeblod by severe
attack Of sickness that came can, ,sI ,uspon, q, inc, me IN
OF the United States Supreme Court are so
important and so exaoting that feel 1t is due
the public service that, as general rule and
other things being equal, one who enters
upon their performance should have fair
and reasonable prospect of twenty years OF
active, unbroken labor before reaching the
age named by the law for retiring. For the
work done in that court lasts for ali the years
to come, and goes Ear to mold aud fashion
our institution-make and execute the laws as
we may. could not. even indulge the
hope ofhaving the period OF flfteen years al,
lowed me for continuous hard work, and
would be untrue to duty to accent such a trust
with the fact staring me in the face. Besides,
some months after. the two appointments re-
ferred TO were made, was elected by the leg
islature of Arkansas to the United States SEN
ate for the second time, and then formed a
resolution TO retire from public life and public
place at the end OF that term, which will OK.
pire at the close of this administration, and
have so shaped my affairs as to carry out this
resolution, which becomes more important to
me as the time approaches. This resolution,
sCme six months since, / repeated emphati'
cally TO my friends in Arkansas by letter
that was published touching my running
again for the United States senate; and viii
soy that the entire Arkansas representation In
Congress has known for nearly or quite two
years past OF this determination on my part a.
Does the President know OF this" wa!
asked.
YES" he replied generally and partlc
ularly generally for he has heard me say iiatly
would have no other public place after this
and on the 2Sd OF February last he asked mt
TO take place on the interstate commerce
commission, which I declined, repeating
wanted and would have no public office ate
this. And particularly, as soon rs l ulC
decently do SO (the day after Justice Woo
was buried l told him my name was belni
used in this connection, and wanted at onct
to say that 1 did not wish the place and woulC
not have 1t, and repeated my resolution as 4
public offices, and wished MIN to proceed {,
the consideration Of the question as If he hat
never heard Of me-"
Then as you are out OF consideration, who 1
likely to get itP'
II have not the remotest idea"
DO yon, know when the appointment will
II do not, as / have had no talk with th
| President about 1t beyond making to him tn
statement as to myself with the reasons there
fore, which have given you"